Friday, September 12, 2008

Sunday Scribblings - "Coffee" - 9/14/08


One of the many unwritten rules in a military office environment is that the first person to arrive for duty makes the initial pot of coffee for the office. The coffee is number one priority. The defense of our nation and combating the spread of communism will not begin for the day until the coffee has been made available. This task is not delegated by rank or position (obviously Generals don’t make coffee), but chronologically. First in was the barista. I am sure that with the abundancy of Starbucks, the task has changed to picking up coffee as opposed to making it, even on foreign soil.



I was a bad team member as I have never been a coffee drinker. When I was the first arrival, the second person in would make the coffee, bitching and moaning all the while. In several different duty locations this become a morale issue. It was very important to some people that coffee be available as early as possible. I not only did not drink it but I did not even know how to make it, nor did I wish to learn. Once at each duty location, I would relent and make a pot that was either the consistency of motor oil or seltzer, depending on how many scoops I chose to include or how much vinegar I added. For some reason, I was never asked to brew again. Sometimes, just to be cruel, I would offer.

16 comments:

Redheels said...

I know exactly what you are saying. I am not a coffee drinker, but expected to make it. It seems if you are a female, most people think you should make the coffee and serve it smiling the entire time. :)

Enjoyed your post.

Lucy said...

good post Rick. You fooled me. I would have thought You were addicted to caffeine! So WHAt is your wake me up in the morning?

myrtle beached whale said...

I have never been a morning person until Skooter showed up. He is a living alarm clock.

Preethi said...

hahaha lol.. enjoyed this post

Coffee

Granny Smith said...

Was it the vinegar or the motor oil? I'll make my own, thank you!

Linda Jacobs said...

Love the touch of vinegar! I'll have to try that with my husband since only he drinks coffee!

Eaton Bennett aka Berenice Albrecht said...

What a delightful piece of architecture in that photo...love all the colours. I work in hospitality and just love making coffee; like to drink it too. :)

Forgetfulone said...

I don't drink it, either. What a great way to get out of having to make the coffee - vinegar!

Rinkly Rimes said...

I thought everybody else in the world knew how to make coffee but me!

Roan said...

Personally, I love coffee. As a true coffee lover, I know not to ask someone who does not drink it to make it. Never works. You made your point well! BJ

susan said...

Could it have been that bad to be a team player? lol

Tumblewords: said...

Oh, how funny! I wish I'd thought of that when I was (purely sexist) assigned to making coffee for an office full of men. Love the flamin' pot.

Robin said...

Vinegar? You are not a nice man my friend. *shudder*

PS Love the new header - how nice to have a face to put with the name.

Patois42 said...

The child of a military man, I can only say that I've known that rule for what seems like forever. I'm surprised no one busted you down a stripe or two for failure to comply with the coffee-making.

Nita Jo said...

This post made me laugh, but I'm glad I wasn't the recipient of the vinegar coffee!

TD said...

Hysterical photos. I too am not a coffee drinker though have never had to prove my ineptitude with all things coffee. Give me a tea bag and some hot water any day. Good post.